Alexander Armstrong

Alexander Armstrong, whose full name is Alexander Henry Fenwick "Xander" Armstrong, is a singer, comedian, television presenter, and an actor. He was born in Rothbury, Northumberland, England, on March 2, 1970. Alexander was the youngest son of Henry Angus Armstrong, a physician, and Emma Virginia Peronnet Thompson-McCausland. Lucius Thompson-McCausland, an economist, was his maternal grandfather.

He attended Mowden Hall School, Stocksfield, Northumberland, St Mary's Music School “Music School”, as the title itself suggests, is a >> Read More... , Edinburgh, Trinity College, Cambridge, and Durham School. Alexander can play piano, cello, and oboe. While studying at Trinity College, he was an active member of the choir and joined the writing team of Footlights. In 1992, after completing his graduation, Alexander migrated to London to search for opportunities in acting and comedy.

He did odd jobs to support himself during his stay in London. During this time, Jez Butterworth Jeremy “Jezz” Butterworth is a well-renowned Engli >> Read More... introduced him to Ben Miller. Alexander and Ben struck up a partnership, and together they performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Before Ben, David Wolstencroft was Miller's partner. Their camaraderie helped them bag a Perrier Award nomination. On a show, Alexander discovered that he is William the Conqueror's descendant and has royal connections too.

A year later they got a chance to work in Armstrong and Miller, The Sunday Format, and The Armstrong and Miller Show, and much more. He has also presented Have I Got News for You, Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns, Sunday Night at the Palladium, and others. Besides hosting, he has also acted in The Thin Blue Line, Jackboots on Whitehall, Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and others.

After nearly ten years of acting and hosting, he established a band and released A Year of Songs, In a Winter Light, and Upon a Different Shore. Besides him, it consisted of Harry, Jeff Lardner, Dave Swift, and Simon Bates. Before becoming famous, he would only sing at marriages or in churches. Alexander has also lent his voice to games Wings of Destiny, Hidden & Dangerous 2,  and animation movie A Town Called Panic. He also started a production company named Toff Media. Northumbria University gave him their honorary doctorate.

Alexander is a vocal supporter of Countryside Alliance. In 2011, he became Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne's president and regularly donates to charities like Just A Drop, Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, and Family Links. On August 27, 2003, he got hitched to Hannah Bronwen Snow. The couple gave birth to four sons.